The Stone age : A Span of 3 Millions

Contributed by:
Steve
This booklet helps students to learn about the Stone age, describing the era of the Stone Age and fun activities to enhance their knowledge about the prehistoric period.
1. The Stone Age
The Stone Age covers a span of over 3 million years! It started when the first
human-like animals came into existence. These early humans first arrived in
Britain more than 800,000 years ago.
When Was the Stone Age?
The Stone Age is split into three time periods:
• Palaeolithic – around 3,000,000BC
The earliest people used simple tools.
• Mesolithic – around 10,000BC
People lived as hunter-gatherers,
constantly on the move to survive.
• Neolithic – around 4500BC to 2400BC
Farming began, pottery was made and villages were built.
Why Is It Called the Stone Age?
During this time, stone was the main material used to make tools and weapons
with a sharp edge or point.
Where Did Stone Age People Live?
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Eras
Some early Stone Age people lived in caves. Evidence of humans sheltering
in caves has been found by archaeologists, who discovered cave paintings of
ancient animals.
However, most Stone Age people are thought to have lived in tents made with
wood or animal bones and animal skins. There is evidence that the floor was
covered with a layer of moss, reeds and other soft plant materials.
Neolithic Era
Stone Age people stopped travelling and began to settle in villages. There is
evidence of settlements, such as the one at Skara Brae, often made up of simple
roundhouses built from stone. These houses had beds, storage shelves and a
fireplace in the middle.
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2. The Stone Age
What Did Stone Age People Eat?
Stone Age people were initially hunter-gatherers. They ate nuts, berries and
fruits that they had gathered and meat and fish that they had hunted.
Animals were much bigger during this time so hunting them would have been
hard work. They would, however, provide enough food for a village.
During the Neolithic era, Stone Age people became farmers. This meant that
they grew much of the food they needed for their village.
What Did Stone Age People Wear?
After animals were hunted, their skins would be removed before the meat was
eaten. These would be cleaned using stone tools and then washed.
Men, women and children wore similar clothing:
• a tunic made from two pieces of rectangular animal skin – bound (or later
sewn) together with a hole for the head;
• a belt, possibly made from grasses;
• simple leather shoes;
• jewellery might be added for decoration.
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3. Write Your Title Here
Questions
1. Which of these did Stone Age people wear? Tick two.
a tunic
a hat
a belt
a skirt
2. Join the boxes to show where people lived during which time period.
Palaeolithic tent
Mesolithic cave
Neolithic roundhouse

3. Which of these were foods of Stone Age people? Tick three.
nuts
berries
fish
cheese
4. When was the Neolithic era? Tick one.
3,000,000BC
10,000BC
4500BC to 2400BC
800,000BC
5. During which time did Stone Age people begin to settle in villages?

6. Find and copy the materials that were used on the floor of tents during the Mesolithic era.

7. Would you have enjoyed living during the Stone Age? Give a reason for your answer.



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4. The Stone Age
Answers
1. Which of these did Stone Age people wear? Tick two.
a tunic
a hat
a belt
a skirt
2. Join the boxes to show where people lived during which time period.
Palaeolithic tent
Mesolithic cave
Neolithic roundhouse
3. Which of these were foods of Stone Age people? Tick three.
nuts
berries
fish
cheese
4. When was the Neolithic era? Tick one.
3,000,000BC
10,000BC
4500BC to 2400BC
800,000BC
5. During which time did Stone Age people begin to settle in villages?
Stone Age people began to settle in villages during the Neolithic era.
6. Find and copy the materials that were used on the floor of tents during the Mesolithic era.
layer of moss, reeds and other soft plant materials
7. Would you have enjoyed living during the Stone Age? Give a reason for your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I would not like to live during the Stone Age because it
sounds like hard work having to hunt large animals for dinner and I would miss pizza!
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5. The Stone Age
The Stone Age covers a period of over 3 million years and started when the first
human-like animals came into existence. These early humans first arrived in
Britain more than 800,000 years ago.
When Was the Stone Age?
The Stone Age is split into three time periods:
• Palaeolithic – around 3,000,000BC
The earliest hominids used simple tools.
Britain was connected by land to France
and Denmark.
• Mesolithic – around 10,000BC
People led nomadic lives as hunter-gatherers. Britain became an island.
• Neolithic – around 4500BC to 2400BC
Farming began, pottery was developed and villages were built.
Why Is It Called the Stone Age?
During this time, stone was the main material used to make tools and weapons
with a sharp edge or point.
Where Did Stone Age People Live?
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Eras
Early Stone Age people were nomadic and some lived in caves. Evidence of
humans sheltering in caves has been found by archaeologists, who discovered
cave paintings of ancient animals.
However, most Stone Age people are thought to have lived in tents made with
wood or animal bones and animal skins. There is evidence that the floor was
covered with a layer of moss, reeds and other soft plant materials.
Neolithic Era
Stone Age people stopped travelling and began to settle in villages. There is
evidence of settlements made up of simple roundhouses built from stone. They
were built into mounds of rubbish known as midden, which would provide
stability and warmth. These houses had beds, storage shelves and a hearth
in the middle.
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6. The Stone Age
What Did Stone Age People Eat?
Stone Age people were initially hunter-gatherers,
eating nuts, berries and fruits that they gathered and
meat and fish that they hunted.
Animals, such as mammoths, were much bigger
during this time so hunting them would have been
hard work but they would provide enough food for
a village.
During the Neolithic era, Stone Age people became
farmers, which meant that they grew much of the
food they needed for their village.
What Did Stone Age People Wear?
Due to changing weather, Stone Age clothing had to keep people warm. After
animals were hunted, their skins would be removed before the meat was eaten.
These would be cleaned using stone tools and then washed. There is evidence
that needles and thread were invented during the Stone Age.
Men, women and children wore similar clothing:
• a tunic made from two pieces of rectangular animal skin bound (or later
sewn) together with a hole for the head;
• a belt possibly made from grasses;
• simple leather moccasin shoes;
• jewellery might be added for decoration.
Glossary
hearth: Fireplace.
hominids: Humans or close relatives of humans.
moccasin: A soft leather slipper or shoe with the sole turned up on all sides
and sewn at the top in a simple gathered seam.
nomadic: Travelling from place to place with no permanent home.
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7. The Stone Age
Questions
1. Which of these was not a food of Stone Age people? Tick one.
nuts
berries
fish
cheese
2. Number these Stone Age terms to show the order they appear in the text. The first one has
been done for you.
moccasins
1 hominid
cave paintings
nomadic
hearth
3. Which of these words means fireplace? Tick one.
hearth
hominid
moccasin
nomadic
4. Join the boxes to link each time period to the correct fact.
Palaeolithic Britain became an island
Mesolithic Britain was connected by land to France and Denmark
Neolithic roundhouse
5. Find and copy two things that Stone Age people would have eaten.


6. Find and copy the material that Stone Age shoes would have been made from.

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8. The Stone Age
Questions
7. Give one reason why you would have liked to have lived during the Stone Age and one
reason why you would not have liked to have lived during the Stone Age.



8. Stone Age people stopped travelling and began to settle in villages.
Why do you think that this was the case?



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9. The Stone Age
Answers
1. Which of these was not a food of Stone Age people? Tick one.
nuts
berries
fish
cheese
2. Number these Stone Age terms to show the order they appear in the text. The first one has
been done for you.
5 moccasins
1 hominid
3 cave paintings
2 nomadic
4 hearth
3. Which of these words means fireplace? Tick one.
hearth
hominid
moccasin
nomadic
4. Join the boxes to link each time period to the correct fact.
Palaeolithic Britain became an island
Mesolithic Britain was connected by land to France and Denmark
Neolithic roundhouse
5. Find and copy two things that Stone Age people would have eaten.
Accept any two of the following: nuts; berries; fruits; meat; fish.
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10. The Stone Age
Answers
6. Find and copy the material that Stone Age shoes would have been made from.
leather
7. Give one reason why you would have liked to have lived during the Stone Age and one
reason why you would not have liked to have lived during the Stone Age.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I would have enjoyed hunting for food with handmade
tools but I would not have liked eating the food – I would miss pizza!
8. Stone Age people stopped travelling and began to settle in villages.
Why do you think that this was the case?
Pupils’ own responses, such as: People realised they could farm so no longer had to
travel to find food. They probably wanted to settle down with their families and to
make friends.
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11. The Stone Age
Spanning over 3 million years, the Stone Age started when the first human-like
animals came into existence. These early humans first arrived in Britain more
than 800,000 years ago. During this time, stone was predominantly used for
making tools and weapons with a sharp edge or point.
The Stone Age is split into three time periods:
• Palaeolithic – around 3,000,000BC
The earliest hominids (humans or close
relatives of humans) used simple tools.
Britain was connected by land to
France and Denmark.
• Mesolithic – around 10,000BC
People led nomadic lives as hunter-
gatherers, meaning they travelled from
place to place with no permanent home.
Britain became an island.
• Neolithic – around 4500BC to 2400BC
Farming began, pottery was developed and villages were built.
Where Did Stone Age People Live?
During the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic eras, Stone Age people were nomadic
and some lived in caves. Evidence of humans sheltering in caves has been found
by archaeologists, who discovered cave paintings of ancient animals. However,
most Stone Age people are thought to have lived in tents made with wood or
animal bones and animal skins. There is evidence that the floor was covered
with a layer of moss, reeds and other soft plant materials.
It was only in the Neolithic era when Stone Age people began to settle in villages.
There is evidence of settlements, such as the one at Skara Brae, often made up
of simple roundhouses built from stone. They were built into mounds of rubbish
known as midden (small stones, shells, mud and animal bones), which would
provide stability and insulation. These houses had beds, storage shelves and a
hearth (fireplace) in the middle.
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12. The Stone Age
What Did Stone Age People Eat?
Stone Age people were initially hunter-gatherers. Their diet consisted of nuts,
berries and fruits that they had gathered and meat and fish that they had
hunted using the weapons that they crafted out of stone and wood.
Animals (such as mammoths) were much bigger during this time, making
hunting them difficult but the reward would be worth it.
During the Neolithic era, Stone Age people became farmers which meant that
they grew much of the food they needed for their village. They even domesticated
(tamed) some of the animals to help on their farms.
What Did Stone Age People Wear?
Due to changing weather, Stone Age clothing had to keep people warm. After
animals were hunted, their skins would be removed before the meat was eaten.
These would be cleaned using stone tools and then washed. There is evidence
that needles, made from bone, and thread were invented during the Stone Age.
Men, women and children wore similar clothing:
• a tunic made from two pieces of
rectangular animal skin bound (or
later sewn) together with a hole for
the head;
• a belt possibly made from grasses;
• simple leather moccasin shoes,
which are soft leather shoes with
the sole turned up on all sides
and sewn at the top in a simple
gathered seam;
• decorative jewellery might be
added – many bone and shell
bracelets and necklaces have been
uncovered by archaeologists.
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13. The Stone Age
Questions
1. What was stone used to make? Tick all that apply.
tools
weapons
homes
needles
2. Tick all statements which are true.
Stone Age people wore a tunic.
Animals were much smaller during the Stone Age.
People settled in villages during the Mesolithic era.
Farming began during the Neolithic era.
3. Find and copy two things that Stone Age people wore.


4. Find and copy an adjective from the text which is used to describe the jewellery.

5. Find and copy two different ways that animals were used during the Stone Age.

• 
6. Would you rather be a hunter or a gatherer? Give reasons to explain.



7. During which era of the Stone Age would you rather live? Give reasons to explain.



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14. The Stone Age
Questions
8. …but the reward would be worth it.
Why do you think that this was the case?



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15. The Stone Age
Answers
1. What was stone used to make? Tick all that apply.
tools
weapons
homes
needles
2. Tick all statements which are true.
Stone Age people wore a tunic.
Animals were much smaller during the Stone Age.
People settled in villages during the Mesolithic era.
Farming began during the Neolithic era.
3. Find and copy two things that Stone Age people wore.
Accept any two of the following: a tunic; a belt; simple moccasin shoes, jewellery.
4. Find and copy an adjective from the text which is used to describe the jewellery.
decorative
5. Find and copy two different ways that animals were used during the Stone Age.
Accept any two of the following: for food; for clothing; for housing; for farming.
6. Would you rather be a hunter or a gatherer? Give reasons to explain.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I would rather be a gatherer because I would be scared
of the large animals, such as mammoths and I enjoy foraging for wild food.
7. During which era of the Stone Age would you rather live? Give reasons to explain.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I would rather live during the Neolithic era because I
think it would be less hard work being settled in a village than travelling all the time. It
would be fun to have some tame animals helping on the farm rather than feeling scared
of them all.
8. …but the reward would be worth it.
Why do you think that this was the case?
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think that the reward of catching a mammoth would
have been worth it because it was so huge that it would feed a whole village and the
skin would make a lot of clothing.
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